Minutes - March 10, 2005

These minutes were approved at the UT Staff Council meeting on April 21, 2005

Members present: Yolanda Aldaco, Mack Andrews, Alison Louise Brown, Julie Cunniff, Marlis Dagg, Neil Fahlund, Phil Gavenda, Royce Gehrels, Claudia Gerardo, Marco Gonzalez, Christy Habecker, Charlotte Harris, Phillip Hebert, Bert Herigstad, Gayle Hight, Tom Horn, Marcus Horton ,Greg Howard, Kim Johnson, Amy Jones, Elizabeth Korves, Sonja Lane, Noah Lowenstein, Debra Madden, Cheryl McVay, PG Moreno,
Kathy Romberg, Leslis Saucedo, Craig Schroer, Edie Shugart, Frank Simon, Sandra Sleeper, Didi Smith, Olen Smith, Barbara Thompson, Jennifer Trost, Alayna Wadleigh, Erin Waneck, JR Watson, Sara Jackson Watson, Shane Williams, Cynthia Wilson, Glen Worley, Gabby Yearwood, Andrea Zabcik

Members absent with notification: Vickie Amidon, Johnnie Conley, Patrice Fox, Philip Guerrero, Margaret Hill, Dreya Johannsen, Lynn Lecropane, Suzanne McIntyre, John Nelson, Chuck Pearson, Billie Pierce, Albert Puga, Jo Ann Richmond, Sheril Smith

Members absent: Philemon Brown, Tara Carlisle, Oscar Carmona, Melba Catchings, Augustin Collazo, Laura Davis, Linda Frost, Freida Golden, John Hibbitts, George David Hughes, Donna O'Kelly, Jorge Puig, Annamaria Sergi, Jerry Spillar

Quorum: 75 filled UTSC representative places divided by 2 = 38 (for quorum)

Call to Order

Chair Glen Worley called to order the regular meeting of the UT Staff Council at 2:05 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2005 in Main 212. 45 UTSC representatives were present.

Welcome new members:

Edie Baugh Shugart
District 402 (Law School)

Cheryl McVay
District 391 (LBJ School)

Andrea Zabcik
District 182 (Continuing Education)

Announcements:

The next regular meeting of the UTSC is April 21, Main 212, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Gwen Grigsby will update us on legislative issues affecting the University and higher education. Kyle Cavanaugh is leaving the University to join the University of Florida. The Executive Committee for UTSC recommended that the Staff Council have a staff member on the search committee for Kyle's replacement. Kyle Cavanaugh has endorsed this recommendation.

Chair introduced guest speakers: Sandy Briley from UT Childcare, and Bob Harkins from Parking and Traffic.

Sandy Briley announced the new childcare facility at Comal and Manor, opening August 2005. There is currently a waiting list of 800 on combined lists for all three facilities. The Childcare facility is considered a value to the University when recruiting new employees, and to the persons at the University as a whole since having onsite childcare has been found to improve moral and productivity. The University Childcare facility has also been used by students for internships and research projects. The UT Childcare would be happy to give tours to their facilities, and acts as a resource for referral information to those in the University community.

For more information please visit their website at www.utexas.edu/services/childcare.

Dr. Briley took questions at the end of her presentation. The Chair asked if there were any plans for a childcare facility at the PRC. Dr. Briley said there was a survey 8 years ago, but it was found that there were not enough people interested in one at PRC.

Another question concerned the lack of childcare for school age children during spring break, and thought there would be lots of activities for those age children to do on campus and wondered it this issue has ever been addressed. Also, the issue of extending childcare hours was raised.

Dr. Briley felt that stretching the hours required by staff to work would weaken the overall program, and lessen the quality they were able to provide.

Christy Habecker asked what the criteria were for getting on the waiting list. The answer was that you must work thirty hours or more, or be a student. Priority is given to families that already have a sibling enrolled. To get on the waiting list you must have an expected date of birth.

In response to another question it was also stated that if grandparents are legal guardians, then they could also get on the waiting list. Since student fees help subsidize the childcare facility, students must be enrolled full-time.

Dr. Briley ended by stating that the next goal of the UTCC would be to expand family services with parent education and community services.

Marcus Horton introduced Dr. Harkins who spoke about parking and traffic issues. He stated that we, the campus at large are the owners of the parking system, and is not supported from any other source of revenue, other than what is collected by fees. Dr. Harkin stated that parking is not "free" and that every time he gives away "free" parking, it means someone else must pay more. The University is land locked. Buildings have slowly taken up more and more parking lots, and eroded available spaces. Parking garages have been built, and are found around the perimeter. Speedway is close to closing to vehicular traffic, and will end up losing several A spaces. Speedway between Jester Circle and 21st is scheduled to close this summer. The Old Student Health Center will be demolished this summer, and all parking on University Ave. will be lost as well. A permits are becoming tighter to find. There is a new residence hall being built on 27th and Whitis, and there is also a pool being put in adjacent to Gregory Gym, lessening access. There will also be a fire safety lane coming down Speedway.

There has been a "Booting Program" where if a car owner has been not taken care of their citations, their vehicle will get a boot on it where the car cannot be driven. There will be stricter enforcement of this program. Dr. Harkins said that this primarily affects students.

There has also been an increase in fines for disabled parking.

The parking and traffic office is working to free up some F parking spaces for the summer semester to help ease the strain. His office has issued 824 Share Passes, and gave credit to the Staff Council for this idea. Dr. Harkin encouraged the use of the free park and ride bus service. He said it costs $35 an hour to operate a bus, and that empty busses are not cost efficient. He also indicated that other programs are in the works, like forming a University motor pool for office vehicles, and establishing a better shuttle service, and a way finding committee to help people find their way around campus.

He opened the floor for questions. The Chair asked whether new buildings were going to get signs that list their name, as well as building numbers.

Dr. Harkin said this was in the works and he hoped new signs would start appearing this summer. He is currently focusing on maps at all garages, and hopes to make them electronic in the future letting people know if the garage in full.

In response to a question regarding plans to make campus more accessible to bicycles, Harkins said a consultant had been hired to suggest bike routes on and around campus. He also pointed out the increased number of bike racks installed, and plans to install bicycle lockers.

Gayle Hight asked about parking at the Blanton Museum. Dr. Harkins said that some dormitory resident parking in the Brazos (Jester) Garage would be lessened by moving them to other garages, since students only use their cars on the weekend. Those may put them in the Manor Garage during the week. The Brazos Garage will not have reserved spaces for Blanton patrons, but this will not affect staff.

Neil Fahlund asked why people who have ample parking at PRC are paying for everyone else?

Dr. Harkins stated that his office provides maintenance and safety at the commons and reiterated that everyone parking at a UT facility must pay for parking.

Amy Jones asked if there were plans for a bike route off Speedway. His answer was that the best place to cross MLK was Brazos because it has a protected light.

Tom Horn raised the issue of "O" spaces that seem to never be used. Dr. Harkins stated that there are 48 senior staff "O" permits that are "O" at all times. They pay $600.00 a year for this permit. Parking is looking at changing those permits to 8am-5pm only, to free them up somewhat.

Dr. Harkins added that the parking fees are established by the Parking committee, the President, and the Board of Regents.

For more information on Parking and Traffic issues, Dr. Harkins has a Power point presentation available for those who want to request one.

We were unable to present issues from the Issue Committee before the close of the meeting.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 3:30 PM
The next regular meeting of the UTSC is April 21, 2005; 2:00-3:30 p.m., Main 212.